LA Episcopal Church Tests Gay Policy

Testing a new policy that permits gay and lesbian clergy, Episcopal Church leaders in Los Angeles nominated one of each today, the Los Angeles Times reports. The 70,000-member Diocese of Los Angeles picked Rev. John L. Kirkley and Rev. Canon Mary Douglas Glasspool as two of six contenders for assistant bishop positions—despite repeated warnings from theological conservatives against such a move.

The LA diocese is one of the first to test the pro-gay policy, after the consecration of a gay bishop in 2003 prompted four dioceses and dozens of churches to break away from the 2.1-million-member US Episcopal Church. The LA diocese's bishop said he is "pleased at the wide diversity" that the candidates "offer this diocese."
(More Episcopal Church stories.)